We haven't discussed Ricky Martin yet. Now, I know many of you have strong feelings about the subject. Maybe you even love him - perfectly natural; you're young, after all. Maybe you hate him, and what is hate, but love from another angle?

Anyway, back to Ricky. I don't know how to tell you this, but ... he used to be in Menudo. There, I've said it. Don't tell him I told you; he's very sensitive about this sort of thing.

"If you've got any dynamics in you - WEAR IT, man! WEAR IT!" In these days of moral ambiguity, this advertising slogan might be attached to the latest ribbed wonder from Trojan. Back in the 1950's, however - when the slogan appeared in an Arrow print ad - there could be little doubt of what Madison Avenue was trying to get across: Wear that Arrow "Dynamics" necktie, daddy-o. K.N.O.T. - Kollectors of Nasty Old Ties, acrostically speaking - celebrates that lost era, in which just about any tie spelled power and distinction. Frankly speaking, there are some nasty-assed ties here - from Arrow's "California" design, which looks like spilled marinara, to the nefarious "Hi Fi Ties," seemingly cut from the back of your sofa. The "Tip In" ties are kinda cool (as seen in "Barton Fink"!) but by and large, the vintage neckwear collected here can only cut circulation to the head and dim the wearer's sense of reality. A great site and a fun read all told. Wear it, man, wear it!
 

It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Brad Bird's masterful animated version of Ted Hughes' "The Iron Giant" was supposed to open to sellout business this weekend past, and I was going to say "I know I'm kind of behind the curve on this one, but the film's official website is really cool." Instead, I stare in disbelief at a dismal $5.7 million opening gross - even "Inspector Gadget" did better business in its third week - and ask, with all due respect, what the holy living crap is wrong with you people? Was it the competition? Sorry, there's nothing in "The Haunting," "Deep Blue Sea" and "Runaway Bride" that couldn't wait another week. Tired of formulaic feature animation, perhaps? The grounded style and strong narrative of "Giant" shines an unforgiving light on the flaws of Disney's last few projects (saccharine musical numbers, stuffed toys masquerading as characters). Worried about the hip factor? This film has all the makings of a cult classic. Don't believe a so-called cartoon can deliver drama, pathos? "Iron Giant" is a better movie than "Armageddon," "Stepmom" and "Patch Adams" combined, and you paid eight bucks to see those stinking carcasses, didn't you? About all I can do now, as a cultural advocate, is direct you to the official site - with its interviews with the filmmakers and Shockwave stuff and other cool extras - and hope you come around.
 

Within four nights of the full moon, we drive out to the middle of the desert and get out of the car and stare upward, swimming in the vastness of the night sky, trying to absorb its ... its .... Truthfully, there's no word for the sights, the solace, the stillness - but thanks to photographer Troy Paiva, at least there's a picture or two to approximate it. Paiva shoots the forgotten landmarks of the American West - the abandoned gas stations, the airplane boneyards, the endless desert highways - in the middle of moonlight nights, with colorful and dramatically placed fill lighting for an eerie, otherworldly effect. Paiva's art is collected at Lost America, a photo index that scans better than most feature films. The images are sharp enough to reach into and touch. Atmospheric and unspeakably beautiful, Lost America is a must-see.
 

How cool would it be, mon ami, if Punchy - the twain-fisted spokesman for teetotaler's cocktail Hawaiian Punch - fell off the wagon and began extolling the virtues of Trader Vic's more-fruity-than-fruity Mai Tai? Why, they'd almost have to become the national beverage, wouldn't they? I mean, with Punchy patrolling the bars and lounges: "Say, how about a nice Mai Tai?" "Sure!" you say. And Punchy head-butts you anyway, just outta spite... Meanwhile, The Search for the Ultimate Mai Tai continues in earnest, doing the work Punchy (as yet) cannot, seeking out the best versions of the signature rum-based beverage in watering holes from Vegas to Honolulu. Like Punchy, the permanent vacationers behind this site have a firm grasp on what's going down (Halekulani Hotel, Honolulu: "A perfect balance of ingredients and the presentation is classic Trader Vic's") and what should come up (John Murio's Trophy Room, San Francisco: "We hate watery Mai Tais, but in this case the water hid the taste of the low-grade rum used"), and aren't afraid to share their opinions. (The booze helps, of course.) All told, a fun and highly readable site that tastes better than a Hawaiian Punch / knuckle sandwich combo - but don't tell Punchy that the Passenger said that. We have families.

Hey, have you seen the big list? I mean, the really big list? Just click on the "search by topic" link below and roll in the sites that came before these, all one-hundred-percent-natural and Ricky Martin-approved. Adios!